January 29, 1991 · Saudi Arabia Theater
January 29, 1991
On the night of January 29, two Iraqi armored divisions crossed into Saudi Arabia and seized the small coastal town of Khafji — the first and only Iraqi ground offensive of the war. For two days, Saudi Arabian National Guard and Qatari forces, backed by US Marines and devastating coalition air power, fought to retake the town. Two US Marine reconnaissance teams were trapped inside Khafji for the entire battle, hiding in buildings and radioing intelligence on Iraqi troop movements while Iraqi soldiers searched for them. Saudi and Qatari forces ultimately recaptured Khafji on February 1 after house-to-house fighting.
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